US accuses BP of 'gross negligence' in 2010 oil spill

US accuses BP of 'gross negligence' in 2010 oil spill

The U.S. Justice Department is ramping up its rhetoric against BP PLC for the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, laying out in a
new court filing examples of what it calls "gross negligence and willful misconduct."

The filing is the sharpest position yet taken by the U.S. government as it seeks to hold the British oil giant largely responsible for the largest oil
spill in U.S. history.

"The behavior, words, and actions of these BP executives would not be tolerated in a middling size company manufacturing dry goods for sale in a
suburban mall," government lawyers wrote in t

Personally I am doubtful anything substantial will come of this since big oil and politics are in the same gang, and are in eachother's pockets.

It would be nice to see some liability and accountability finally take place but as previously said this is highly doubtful and in my opinion this is
just smoke and mirrors and a partial distraction from the actual disaster and other current events that are unfolding.

One thing is for sure is that I would like to see everyone who had a part in this disaster, including those who lied and did not compensate the
victims and the environment to be held accountable for their actions, this includes the US government. I find their accusation towards BP to be very
hypocritical since they were part of the problem since the very beginning.

This "firm" statement is just a formality to appease those in the US that are calling for action. The relation between big business and government
is becoming ever more clear and as you have infered, no real action is likely to take place.

I fear that at some point Industrial and Corporate Giants will soon have enough power and influence to disregard what any nation tells them to do.

Yeah well there should be more people accusing the Justice Department for gross negligence in light of the F&F scandal as well as the absence of
action in regards to the 2008 financial crises.Sorry, I got a little off topic there.

Originally posted by Corruption Exposed
One thing is for sure is that I would like to see everyone who had a part in this disaster, including those who lied and did not compensate the
victims and the environment to be held accountable for their actions, this includes the US government. I find their accusation towards BP to be very
hypocritical since they were part of the problem since the very beginning.

Here here.

Let's hope the phrase "willful misconduct" carries some weight when deciding what is going to be done here. Although I do share your pessimism about
something being done in this situation because of the close ties between big oil and the government I do hope they end up making an example out of BP.
These disasters cannot continue to happen. The way the BP execs handled themselves after the disaster was insulting and just showed us how little
they were concerned.

Our oceans will not ever be the same again if these accidents continue to happen and until someone is hit financially these accidents will continue to
happen because it is cheaper to cut corners. This ruling is at least a glimmer of hope in a #ty situation. I will be very interested to see how this
is handled.

ETA ... umm too much "truth" broke ATS?

edit on 5-9-2012 by underduck because: I think I broke the page somehow by accident.

I fear that at some point Industrial and Corporate Giants will soon have enough power and influence to disregard what any nation tells them to do.

I fear this as well. In fact, I believe we are already or are very near this point.

Sometimes I just feel helpless, and I can only imagine how the people directly affected by the disaster feel with all the BS they have been put
through. Their lives will never be the same.

I believe you are Canadian, the same thing is happening in a slightly different manner in our Alberta Oil Sands as it is very obvious our government
has also sold out to these corporations and lie and steal as our environment is polluted and the rich get wealthier while our economy has not
improved. You would think all this oil revenue would make it's way back to Canadians, the same thing goes for the citizens of the United States. We
are all getting screwed.

True, i feel were are seeing the corporatization growing in Canada as well. We are practically connected at the hip with the US economically, though
we do seem to have some type of buffer system that helps mitigate economic fluctuations.

To conclude, i feel this is an inevitable progression of capitalism, continued growth and domination over the entire world market. We are just along
for the ride.

Edit: The BP incident is just another example Corporatism is running wild with little checks and balances and every political condemnation of these
disasters is just an illusion meant to quell public out cries.

Originally posted by TheMindWar
This is all hot air by the feds plain and simple. BP should be totally stripped, completely sold off and the money should be plowed into the cleanup
and the residents.

I am sure there are myriad companies who should suffer a similar fate and who (in the great scheme of things) are worse polluters and corporate
bastards that BP could ever be. Let's not forget that it is US companies who have turned 70,000 square miles of the Gulf of Mexico into a dead zone
due to the outflow from the Mississippi. These companies are laughing their heads off.

This is just a witch hunt against a foreign company and the only people who will get rich are the lawyers.

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